The professional landscape in Southeast Asia is evolving rapidly, with a growing focus on gender inclusivity and empowerment in the workforce. Despite significant progress in recent years, women across the region still face substantial barriers to career advancement, including unequal pay, limited leadership opportunities, and persistent cultural biases. To address these multifaceted challenges, forward-thinking organisations and progressive governments have launched targeted initiatives designed to create a more equitable and inclusive workforce environment.
In honour of our women workforce and to celebrate diversity and inclusion, we will share a 4-part series in our Chief of Staff Five column discussing comprehensive mentorship programmes to policy-driven reforms and structural changes. These strategic efforts are simultaneously driving economic growth and unlocking leadership potential across the region.
Women’s leadership development programmes
Initiatives such as the ASEAN Women’s Leadership Initiative equip aspiring women leaders with essential skills, professional networks, and structured mentorship opportunities to confidently step into executive roles across diverse industries. These comprehensive programmes focus on developing crucial competencies including confidence-building, strategic decision-making, and advanced negotiation skills necessary for senior management positions. Corporate-sponsored leadership academies established in Singapore and Malaysia provide targeted coaching and development pathways specifically designed for mid-career female professionals transitioning into demanding senior leadership roles within competitive business environments.
Return-to-work programmes for mothers
Many talented women temporarily leave the workforce due to caregiving responsibilities and family obligations, creating significant career gaps. Innovative programmes like Malaysia’s Career Comeback initiative help professional mothers successfully re-enter the job market through targeted upskilling opportunities, flexible work arrangements, and meaningful employer incentives that recognize their potential contributions. Forward-thinking companies across Indonesia and the Philippines have implemented structured returnship programmes featuring personalized mentorship, skills refresher training, and gradual reintegration pathways specifically designed to ease the transition back into fulfilling full-time roles while maintaining work-life balance.
Equal pay and transparency policies
Progressive economies like Singapore and the Philippines are implementing comprehensive wage transparency policies specifically designed to identify and close persistent gender pay gaps across industries. Organizations conducting regular structured pay audits and publishing salary ranges for all positions actively promote fair compensation practices and reduce unconscious bias in remuneration decisions. Several multinational firms operating throughout Southeast Asia have committed to conducting annual gender pay analyses at all organizational levels, thereby reinforcing accountability mechanisms and establishing equitable remuneration standards that benefit all employees regardless of gender or background.
STEM education and scholarships for women
Women remain significantly underrepresented in high-growth STEM fields throughout Southeast Asia despite proven capabilities. Targeted initiatives such as Indonesia’s Women in Tech movement and Thailand’s comprehensive STEM scholarship programmes actively encourage and support women pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers through financial assistance and mentorship. Innovative university and corporate partnerships established in Vietnam and Malaysia offer specialized mentorship programmes, technical skills development, and paid internships designed to provide valuable industry exposure and practical experience for female students interested in traditionally male-dominated technical fields.
Workplace anti-harassment policies and support systems
A consistently safe and respectful work environment is vital for sustainable career progression among female professionals. Governments and organisations across Southeast Asia are strengthening comprehensive anti-harassment policies, establishing accessible reporting mechanisms, and offering specialized legal and psychological support services for affected employees. Progressive companies in Thailand and Indonesia have implemented mandatory bystander intervention training programmes and anonymous reporting channels to foster truly inclusive workplaces where all employees can thrive professionally without fear of discrimination or harassment that might otherwise derail promising careers and damage organizational culture.
